Studies reveal that 1 out of every 2 employees in corporate India suffers from anxiety and depression.
The research is telling – In a recent study conducted by 1to1Help.net, a professional counselling company, they found a rise in the number of people exhibiting suicidal behavior—from 5% in 2013 to 10.53% in 2017. And 9% of the cases cited work as the cause of stress. The picture painted may be bleak but, there’s always help on the way. As HR of an organization , there is a lot that you can do to provide an outlet for employees to off-load their stress with the use of employee assistance programs, counselling services and more.
But first – let’s be honest – all of us go through depression or anxiety at some point or the other in our careers. Most of us who undergo these feelings, don’t feel comfortable talking openly about them. This is why the theme for this year’s World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) is apt: ‘Working Together to Prevent Suicide.’ One way around the extreme step of suicide is – to seek external help. This WSPD, let’s reflect on how HR can work together with employees to prevent suicides from occurring.
Look for these behaviors amongst employees before you intervene:
- Absenteeism, more than usual sick leave
- Physical ailments
- Poor work performance
- Accident proneness
- Tension and conflict with co-workers
- Harmful substance abuse
- Alcoholism
- Suicidal ideation
Once spotted, these are a few of the suggested steps that you can take:
1) Inform the manager: Let the managers know and get them equipped to handle the matter sensitively. If the managers are unaware of the issue, they will not pay heed to the way they interact with the employee.
3) Offer counseling services: Counselors are great at tackling issues regarding depression and anxiety, even in the extreme stages.
2) Spread awareness: Tie up with external parties for Employee Assistance Programs. Raising awareness about stress and depression related health issues at the workplace will help employees cope with issues at the personal level, as well as work level.
In conclusion, we can all work together to prevent suicide. A stress-free work environment may not be an easy thing to achieve but, companies can do their best to create an environment that is conducive for employee well-being. Suicide prevention measures should also be central to the work of every organization addressing emotional and mental health issues.
However, the outlet your employee seeks may not come from within the organization and that’s where you need to seek professional help. We can sort out the perfect EAP program for your organization and boost the well-being of your employees with the help of our partners. Contact us on reachus@thefullerlife.com or +91 80500 58002/3 . You can also visit www.TheFullerLife.com.
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